Throwing out some non-essentials

Hi All,

I am (again) thinking of throwing out all stereo system components from the GTA. Never use it anyway... Has anybody done it? How much weight do you save by removing all speakers (incl. the sub) plus the power amp?

Not enough to make it worthwhile.

Are you saying that out of own experience? Any major unforseen problems? I know that you will have to get the parcel shelf out, and the c-pillar covers. May not be a dream to do, sure.

Anyway, my GTA is not exactly standard, so these kinds of operations are in line with the purpose of my car as long as it is reasonably easy to do, and provided that you can get it back again.

Hi my friend! I 've changed my interior of my 147 with one taken off a 147 gta...the stereo system isn't heavy enough...it weights less than 5kgr...the coaxial bose speakers weight almost 500gr(4x500=2.000kgr) and the amplifier-sub weight almost 2kgr...the really heavy stuff are the gta seats!!! They weight almost double the weight of the standard 147 seats!! So if you want to save some weight get rid of the seats!!! In addition it's really difficult to get the rear parcel shelf out...believe my...I've done it!!!

Thanks n-a,

what exactly was difficult with the 156 sedan parcel shelf?

Sorry.... I ment the 147 gta...the 156 gta front and rear are the same...nothing difficult! But it doesn't worth it...

If the car is a track toy then stripping out the car could be worthwhile, but just removing the stereo is going to make no difference, you need to attack the whole car. Seats are very heavy yes so you could look at a CF bucket seat.

I spent some time today ripping out the Bose system of the GTA. The only thing I still have in is the CD/Radio unit. I.e. I threw out 4x side speakers, the sub and the amp. The total weight of that was 6,3 kg. The parcel shelf + side trimming was another 3,3 kg, for a total of 9,6 kg. The rear seat has been out for long, I have not weighed that though.

The CD/radio will also go out. I would like to replace that with a piece of carbon fiber covering the hole. Any suggestions on how to get hold of such a piece? I will have to get it custom made I guess...

Originally Posted by Pax

The CD/radio will also go out. I would like to replace that with a piece of carbon fiber covering the hole. Any suggestions on how to get hold of such a piece? I will have to get it custom made I guess...

How about taping a carrier bag over the hole? That'd be cheaper and even lighter!

Good idea Pud, now I just need to find a bag with a nice logo on it... Wait a second, I think I have a Selenia plastic bag here somewhere... ...No, didn't find it, back to the carbon fiber idea then

If you find your nearest Fibreglass laminater, im sure they would have a spare piece of carbon fibre sheet for you. I have worked with quite a few in the past and they always seem to be playing about with sheets of it. Otherwise, you can buy it from Graham Goode Racing or Ripspeed i think.

These cars weigh about 1410kg so by removing the stereo and some trim you've reduced the weight by 9.6kg or 000.68% of the total weight. Personally I'd rather have a stereo and can't see that as a worthwhile reduction unless it's a track car and is completely stripped out. The best weight reduction would be to get some ultra light mag alloys and reduce the unsprung weight.

Let me explain then:

Since i bought the car 3 years ago I have used the stereo only on a few rare occasions, mostly when standing still waiting to pick up someone. For the last 10 months I have not used the stereo once. The Bose system is not very good anyway, so it's not exactly a pleasure to listen to.

Furthermore, I use the car to 95% for my driving pleasure, it is not a daily driver. It is already heavily modified for performance, with coilovers, diff, modified exhaust and intake, lightweight heavy duty strutbar and swaybar with balljoint swaybar links, full poly bush setup at the rear, rims chosen with low weight as primary factor, and uprated brakes prospected with low weight combined with stopping power as criteria.

In this light, I cannot see what 6,3kg+ of dead weight is doing in my car.

Anyway, back on topic. Thanks for the tip Ben, I will look around locally as you suggest.

Can I have your stereo/cd unit please?

mark

Every little bit of weight helps..

Even 1% of weight is "1% extra of everything" (handling, accleration, braking, cornering, fuel efficiency).

Do that a few times and it makes a big difference, especially on track.

Lightweight battery and seats would help a lot too.

What diet are you going to go on - I believe the Atkins is very effective.

Originally Posted by kramando

Can I have your stereo/cd unit please?

mark

Well, as much as I would like to, it is probably a good idea to keep it since the day I sell the bella the next guy might want to have it, rather than a peice of carbon fibre in its place

Originally Posted by Trailbraker

Lightweight battery and seats would help a lot too.

Yeah, I have thought of both. The problem with the lightweight battery is probably that it will go flat in no-time when the car is parked with the alarm on. TB, do you have info on how the GTA fares in battery capacity respect with a low weight battery?

When it comes to the seat I have thought of replacing the drivers seat with a low weight bucket seat. In addition to the weight save I hope that another benefit is that you can place it lower than the stock seat, which I think is placed a bit high even on the lowest setting. Problems with the bucket seat are:

* You have to disconnect the stock seat airbag, and still have the rest of the airbag system working.
* The stock seat belt should still be usable with the new seat.
* The new seat must fit with the driver side door closed
* The new seat will have to be adjustable, at least in length, can you re-use the stock sliding gizmo without modifying it?
* To fit the new seat, I guess you would have to manufacture some special brackets etc. I.e. a bit of a hassle with the car in a workshop.

Anyone have experience with the GTA/156 in this (seat) respect?

I dont have any direct info Pax on the battery life.

I know PeterK did some investigation and sells them on his website.
You should be able to send him an e-mail via AO if his profile hasn't been deleted - giving your own e-mail in the message.

If this doesn't work for you pm me.

My seat investigation hasn't proceeded too far yet, since I decided to go racing with a dedicated car instead of converting my car to be truely hard core for now.

Cheers,
TB

Thanks TB,

I will manage, I already have contact with Peter K, actually we had a brief mixed Swedish/Danish discussion on the battery issue when we met at a 8c demo the other night, but I am not sure I managed to decipher all his Danish correctly I will send him a mail instead to get a fully understandable answer in plain English.

What car will you use instead of the GTA then?

to contact peter just google Zeatek

Just a little FIAT Racing Uno, entering this years Irish championship as a rookie.

Cheap as chips (relatively speaking for a season) and a barrel of laughs, 20Kg springs (approx 1000 lbs ) on the rear of a 700kg car means that the rear is pretty much never following the front.

I'll still do track days with the GTA when the racing season is over - if my "damage budget" hasn't been exceeded too badly that is!

Originally Posted by Pax

What car will you use instead of the GTA then?

Originally Posted by Trailbraker

Every little bit of weight helps..

Even 1% of weight is "1% extra of everything" (handling, accleration, braking, cornering, fuel efficiency).

Do that a few times and it makes a big difference, especially on track.

Lightweight battery and seats would help a lot too.

I agree 1% is 1% of everything but we were actually talking 0.68% without the driver and fuel.

I guess I use my stereo about 90% of the time so the thought of removing it to gain an inperceiveable improvement in performance wouldn't be worthwhile for me.

Chuck out aircon, removing the seats and going CF bucket would make a difference, physcially moving the battery to the rear and fitting a drycell battery would gain you far more kgs. Removing things like motors for electric windows etc, take out the door cards, headlining, carpets, sound deadening, remove the airbags, remove the underseal, swap glass for plastic, wheels getting magnesium alloys, swaping components like alternator, radiator for race spec lighter components there's got to be a whole raft of stuff.